Tada, Drivers 'Boiling' Over Expansion of Premium Taxi Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] As Tada has discontinued its Basic service, it announced plans to expand its premium taxi service, 'Tada Premium,' which sparked backlash from Tada drivers who lost their livelihoods.

Tada operator VCNC held a 'Tada Premium briefing session' for taxi drivers on the 14th in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. At the briefing, VCNC revealed plans to expand the service, which had been operated with the existing K7, to include the Grandeur and Carnival models. Earlier in February, VCNC CEO Park Jae-wook also announced intentions to expand Tada Premium from 100 vehicles to 1,000.

However, the Carnival used for the Premium service will not be the existing Carnival vehicles used in Basic but the 9-seater Carnival gasoline model. This is because, under the current Passenger Transport Act, premium taxis must operate vehicles with an engine displacement of 2800cc or more.

Upon news of the Tada Premium briefing, the Tada Drivers Emergency Response Committee strongly criticized Tada. This is because Tada Premium requires taxi driver qualifications. It is known that only about 5% of Tada Basic drivers hold taxi driver qualifications.

The committee stated, "Even amid the COVID-19 emergency, Tada has pushed 12,000 drivers into unemployment," and criticized, "Tada has proven itself to be a company that uses and discards people at will."

They added, "It is questionable whether the new business can succeed as it spreads negative perceptions among drivers and the industry," emphasizing, "Tada's behavior will provoke even stronger resistance from the drivers."